Healthcare Reform Could Come in June, Lawmakers Say

Federal legislation aimed at retooling the United States healthcare system could be ready for Senate votes in June 2009, key lawmakers say.

President Barack Obama has made healthcare reform a top priority of his administration. Despite paying more than most countries for healthcare, the U.S. trails other industrialized nations in terms of the quality of medical care. He has said he wants healthcare reform by the end of 2009 and recently appointed a new White House office on healthcare reform.

Today came word that major change from Congress is on the way, sooner rather than later.

Congressional Legislation on the Way

Leaders of two Senate committees say they are working on legislation that may be formed into a proposed bill for a Senate vote by this summer. Senator Max Baucus, who leads the Finance Committee, and Senator Edward Kennedy, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, are taking the point on the movement to change how the American healthcare system works.

Skyrocketing costs and other factors which prevent an estimated 46 million Americans from having insurance are among the problems the proposed legislation may address.

Senate Hearings Planned

This week, the Senate Finance Committee will host the first of three scheduled round-table discussions on the proposed changes. Officials are expected to focus discussions on the quality of healthcare services and ways to reduce the number of people who must be readmitted to hospitals for treatment. Medicare payments and private health plans also are expected to be on the agenda for the workshops.

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